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Posts Tagged ‘Calendar’
Hagiographical Hiccups
The thing about recalling the stories of the various saints is . . . . that the stories themselves are sometimes so inconsistent! For example – today is the feast of St. Moses the Ethiopian (a.k.a – Moses the Black, Moses the Abysinian, and Moses the Robber) his story is one of my favourites and [...]
Adrian & Natalia
Adrian was a Pagan who, having witnessed the valour of the martyrs, confessed his faith in Christ and was thrown into prison for it. His wife Natalia who was already a “secret” believer visited him in prison, to comfort and encourage him. Adrian was tortured to death there. Natalia collected his relics, and took them [...]
Titus Bishop of Crete
Titus was a companion of Paul, who installed him as bishop of Crete (possibly the first bishop of Crete?). It is to him, that the small, punchy, Letter to Titus is addressed. Legend has it that Titus worked hard, and long for the Cretan community and died well into his 90′s there. Tweet
St Irenaeus – (delayed)
Yesterday (Sunday 23 Aug) was the feast of St. Irenaeus of Lyons. His best known work – Against Heresies – is a detailed defense of Christianity against Gnosticism. He is also known (perhaps not well enough) for chastising Victor then Bishop of Rome for over-stepping his authority, and lack of charity over the controversy over [...]
Bassa & Her Sons
Bassa was the wife of a pagan priest. She raised her sons as believers. When they were denounced to the Proconsul as Christians by her husband, Bassa and her sons were tortured. Bassa was forced to watch as her three sons were beheaded before her for their faith. She was then imprisoned, drowned, burned alive, [...]
Samuel the Prophet
Samuel was a levite, a prophet, and the last Judge of Israel. It was at the demand of the people that he annointed Saul and David king. Samuel was faithful to God in every respect, and served his people well. The call of Samuel (1Sam. 3) is interesting because although he was dedicated to the [...]
Insidious Christianity
St. Andrew the Centurion was sent by the comander of the emperor Maximian’s army, Antiochus to fend off Persian incursions. The odds it seems, were against them, and before going into battle Andrew pursuaded his cohort to call upon the name of Christ for victory. They routed the Persians and converted as a result. Antiochus [...]
Florus & Lauros
These twin brothers were stone masons who were comissioned to build a pagan temple. They did so – distributing the proceeds to the poor then, when the work was complete assembling the paupers again to tie ropes around the pagan statues and pull them down – converting the temple into a church. You can guess [...]
Myron the Martyr
Ok – is it me or are the tales of the recent commemorations of saints and martyrs bordering on tales from the Twilight Zone? Myron faced off with the petty ruler of Achaia Antipas on the Feast of the Nativity. Antipas had stormed the church seeking to harrass the Christians and probably kill a few [...]
Micah the Prophet
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah. Jeremiah notes that it was Micah’s preaching influenced the reforms of Hezekiah. It is from Micah that we have the prophecy that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem (Micah 5.1ff): “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me [...]
Maximos the Confessor
Maximos was a noble who served the imperial family as private secretary. However, as the monothelite controversey arose (promoted by the emperor and the then Patriarch Paul), Maximos became an outspoken critic of the new teaching. Unable to persuade the imperial court and the Patriarch, Maximos left the city for the Monastary at Chrysopolis – [...]
Time Check, Anicetus & Photios the Martyrs
Let’s check in with the calendar – yup – its the 10th Wednesday after Pentecost. It’s so easy to loose track of the simple things – yes? Anyway today is the commemoration of Anicetus the Martyr. Anicetus, ike Euplus who we commemorated yesterday, openly “presented himself” to the authorities boldly declaring that all those who [...]
Euplus the Martyr
A deacon in Sicily, Euplus sought martyrdom by presenting himself to the local governor who, according to legend demanded that he worship Mars, Apollo, and Aesculapius. Euplus, now being stretched like a bungee cord on the rack, retorted that he worshiped only the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He was beheaded for his [...]
Lawrence
Lawrence a deacon of Rome was originally from Spain. He was flayed, and grilled alive, having enraged the Prefect who demanded that he hand over the treasures of the church. Lawrence assembled the poor and needy and presented them to the Prefect, announcing: “Behold, the treasures of the Church!” In the early church – as [...]
Matthias
Matthias was chosen by lot to replace Judas (Acts 1.15-26). The use of “lots” to discern the will of God was an ancient practice – see for example the numerous references to the Urim and Thummim in the Old Testament; and not exclusive to Judaism or early Christianity. What is interesting in the narrative of [...]
Dometios & His Disciples
Dometios was a Persian who converted to Christianity and became a monk, living on a mountain near Nisibis. He was known in life for his wisdom and grace bringing many to the faith, and performing miracles. According to legend when Julian the Apostate marched on Persia, he heard of this holy man and ordered that [...]
Transfiguration
This is one of my favourite feasts. Jesus goes up a mountain and reveals himself in all his glory to the disciples. This is also the Gospel narrative that we get the idea of the uncreated energy/light from – an idea that Gregory of Palamas was nearly declared a heretic over. We celebrated Liturgy this [...]
Forefeast of the Transfiguration & A Martyr
Tomorrow is the feast of the Transfiguration – one of my personal favourites. Jesus goes up a mountain, glows like a power plant, and we realise the important spiritual value of the “uncreated light” – all very cool, very mystical . . .but that’s tomorrow. Today we commemorate Eusygnius a soldier exectuted by Julian the [...]
Dalmatus & Faustus
Dalmatus was a soldier before becoming a monk with his son Faustus. Renowned for his virtue, Dalmatus was made Archimandrite of all monastaries in Constantinple after attending the Council of Ephesus in 431. Tweet
Procession of the Life Giving Cross
A festal season that lasts from now until the 15th (Feast of the Dormition) which has a rather interesting history. The relic of the cross – kept in the imperial treasury – was processed throughout the city of Constantinople during these two weeks to ward off illness. Apparently – at that time – the begining [...]
Silas, Silvan & Their Companions
Paul mentions Siilas in Acts 15:40-41 – he was a travelling companion of the Apostle, and later became bishop of Corinth. Silvan became bishop of Thessalonica. Crescents another of Paul’s companions (2Tim 4:10) became bishop of Chalcedon, where he was a successful missionary. Finally, Paul praises Epenetus (Rom. 16.5) who became bishop of Carthage, a [...]
Kallinikos & Theodota
Kallinikos was a missionary in Asia Minor (Turkey) who converted many pagans. He was siezed by the local govenour and forced to run to the city of Gangra in shoes with spikes in the soles. There he was martyred by being burned alive in a furnace. Theodota was a virgin martyred for her faith in [...]
Celebrating The Diaconate
Today we commemorate the deacons Prochor, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas mentioned in Acts 6.5. They were chosen by the community to serve the social ministry needs of the community so that the Disciples could maintain their focus on teaching and study. According to tradition two became bishops (Prochor and Timon), the other two – it [...]
St Panteleimon Holy Unmercenary
Panteleimon was a physician renowned for his skill and compassion. He was martyred in AD 305 for his faith. Tweet